CONWAY — Central Arkansas stormed out of the gate against Lamar on Saturday, scoring 17 consecutive points in building a 20-5 lead within the first eight minutes, but faltered down the stretch and fell to the Lady Cardinals 60-56 in the Farris Center.
Despite falling behind early, the Lady Cardinals (14-4, 3-1 Southland) fought back and outscored the Sugar Bears (11-7, 3-2) 55-36 over the final 30 minutes to leave Conway with their second straight win against UCA.
The Sugar Bears kept the Lady Cardinals at bay for most of the game, withstanding several small Lamar runs that had closed the margin to as few as one, and still held an eight-point lead following a Westin Taylor 3-pointer with 8:38 to go.
After four points from Kalis Loyd, a layup from Trashanna Smith and a 3-pointer from Jenna Plumley, last year's Southland Player of the Year, the Lady Cardinals had once again sliced their deficit to just one at 50-49 with just under five minutes to play.
Megan Herbert, who led all players with 21 points and 18 rebounds, kept UCA clinging to its lead by scoring twice off of offensive rebounds over the next few minutes as the Lady Cardinals were able to get just one basket during that span from Trashanna Smith to trail 54-51 with 2:33 to go.
Just 20 seconds later, Plumley connected on her fourth 3-pointer to draw the score even for the first time since the 17:24 mark of the first half.
The two teams swapped turnovers over the next minute and a half, and it wasn't until the game's final minute that the Lady Cardinals assumed control.
Brateicka Mock broke the tie with 55 seconds left, giving Lamar a 56-54 edge. The Sugar Bears had three opportunities on the other end but could not convert. Courtney Duever missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Nakeia Guiden was there for the offensive rebound. After a timeout, Destinee Rogers drove in for a contested layup that didn't go, but Herbert was there again for the offensive board. However, a few seconds later Plumley came away with a steal to give the Lady Cardinals possession.
The Sugar Bears fouled with 24 seconds left, and Lamar's Monique Whittaker connected on both to push the lead to four with 24 seconds left. The Lady Cardinals clamped down defensively and made the Sugar Bears burn most of the clock to get a score as Destinee Rogers' layup fell through with only seven seconds left.
Two more free throws Plumley with five seconds showing put the lead to four, and the Sugar Bears were unable to get another shot before time expired.
In addition to Herbert's 21 and 18, the Sugar Bears got 14 points and 6 rebounds from Duever. Duever was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor and Herbert was 7-for-13, giving the duo 13 of UCA's 21 field goals. The rest of the team combined to shoot just 8 of 36 (22.2 percent) as the Sugar Bears finished at 38.2 percent.
UCA actually outshot the Lady Cardinals, who were just 32.8 percent from the field, and each team hit six 3-pointers – Lamar in 18 attempts and UCA in 26. The difference came at the free throw line, where the Lady Cardinals were 12-of-14 and the Sugar Bears were 8-of-10 – their lowest total of the season. The previous low was 17 against Houston Baptist.
Plumley and Whittaker led Lamar with 16 points apiece with Smith putting in 14 and Kalis Loyd 10. Smith also led the Lady Cardinals with 13 rebounds.
The Sugar Bears will travel to Hammond, La. to take on Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday before returning home for next Saturday's game against Southland East Division leader McNeese State. That game will be the first half of a doubleheader, with the UCA and McNeese men to play afterward.
